Floor machines



F. J. POLLNOW, JR

FLOOR MACHINES Nov. 28, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 21, 1959 mm F FIG-4 IN VEN TOR. FRANK J. POLLNOW JR.

' l I I l l I HIII ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1961 l P N JR 3,010,135

FLOOR MACHINES Filed May 21. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-6 I MI I 9 H4 T\F\\\\ w //////n/ 1 '1); MI w w n m l 2N2 INVENTOR. FRANK J. POLLNOW JR.

ATTORNEY Nev. 28, 1961 J w, JR 3,010,135

FLOOR MACHINES Filed May 21, 1959 3 Sheets$heet 3 F IG. l2

FIG. l3

R Ag I FI5G. I4

I I INVENTOR.

in 11mm ":1 FRANK J. POLLNOW JR.

St. Louis, M0., a corporation of This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in floor machines and, more particularly, to a splash collar for floor machines.

Most floor machines which are in use today comprise an electric motor mounted vertically upon a flat somewhat circular hollow base having a large disk-shaped brush or applicator which is rotated by the motor. A long handle extends angularly upwardly to facilitate guiding and directing the machine to and fro over the area to be treated. For example, Where a floor is to be scrubbed, the floor scrubbing operation is carried out by thoroughly Wetting the floor with water and soap or detergent and moving the scrubbing machine over the floor surface. The rotation of the brush, however, tends to sling the dirty soapy water outwardly with considerable centrifugal force around the entire periphery of the machine. In the middle of the floor area being scrubbed, this is only a minor inconvenience, but adjacent to walls, columns, furniture, and the like the outwardly slung water splashes up and soils such upright surfaces and presents a serious problem. In fact, at the present time, many custodial employees do not run the scrubbing machine close to walls, preferring instead to rely on hand mopping in the hope the floor is not quite so heavily soiled near the wall and will, therefore, be adequately cleansed without scrubbing. Similarly, stains, sealing preparations, and finishes can be applied to a floor by a floor machine equipped with a suitable applicator, butthe problem of splashing the applied material is substantially the same as'with scrubbing operations.

Ladue, Mo., assignor to Vestal It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a splash guard for floor machines of the rotary brush or applicator type which will prevent wall splashing as the floor machine is used adjacent to walls and similar vertical surfaces.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a splash guard of the type stated which is simple and economical in cost and construction.

It is a further object of the a splash guard of the type stated which can be easily and quickly installed upon a floor machine and will readily adjust its vertical position as the floor machine-is moved about to ride over uneven spots in the floor and conform to various positions of the floor machine itself.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a splash guard constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the splash guard shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a floor machine with the splash guard in place thereon;

FIG. 4 is a vertical elevational view of the floor machine with the splash guard shown in section to illustrate the operative position of the splash guard in relation to the floor machine when the latter is in actual use;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of splash guard constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

present invention to provide FIG. 6 is a vertical elevational view of another type of fioor machine for which the splash guard shown in FIG. 5

is particularly adapted, the splash guard being shown in section in order to illustrate the operative position of the splash guard in relation to such floor machine;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the splash guard shown in FIG. 5, illustrating in more detail the fastening means used in conjunction therewith;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another modified form of splash guard constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of still another type of floor machine for which the splash guard shown in FIG. 9 is particularly adapted;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another'modified form of splash guard constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the splash guard shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a floor machine with the splash guard of FIG. 11 in place thereon; and

FIG. 14 is a vertical elevational view of the floor machine with the splash guard of FIG. 11 shown in sec tion thereon. v

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustratepractical 'embodi-' 7 ments of the present invention, Adesignates a splash guard comprisinga continuous annular collar-like memher 1, which is formed preferably of a polymerized synthetic resin, such as molded polystyrene or other suitable f material which is hard enough to wear well against abrasion, but which will not mark or mar the floor.

Around its upper margin,the'collar-like member 1 is formed inwardly to a somewhat reduced -diarneter in the provision of a somewhat frusto-conical flange 2, and around its lower margin the member 1 is notched to provide a uniformly spaced annular series of tines 3, points of which all lie in a flat planeso as to rest'fiush upon the'fioor when the splash guard A is in operative position upon a floor machine M, as shown in FIG. 3.

It should be noted that the inside diametral size of the splash guard A is slightly ametral size of the floor machine M,so as to fit freely and loosely thereabout. Furthermore, the vertical height of the splash guard A is such that the flange 2 will fit loosely around and over the peripheralmargin 4 of the I 5, as shown in FIG. 4. When in use, the' moves back and forth over the 'fio'or with machine-base splash guardthe floor machine M and rides in a so-called free-floating manner so that the floor machine can be swung around or tilted at will. The tips of the tines 3 ride lightly over the floor F and effectively intercept all splash without interfering in the least with the scrubbing action of the machine M. Since the plash guard is fabricated from a suitable synthetic resin, it is not affected by the chemical action, if any, of the soaps or cleansing solutions used in floor scrubbing operations and the tines 3 will not mark or mar the floor surfaces.

The splash guard A is of a size and shape for fitting around a floor machine of brush-supported type, such as the floor machine M. However, many floor machines in use are of the transport wheel type, such as the floor machine M shown in FIG. 6. For such type of scrubbing machine, it is preferable to employ a splash guard A, as shown in FIG. 5, which is substantially similar to the previously described splash guard A except that it comprises a collar-like member 6 which is split at the rear, as at 7, and provided with overlapping tabs 8, 9, re leasably secured together with conventional snap-fasthe greater than the largest di- 3 tener elements 10, 11, respectively. Beneath the tabs 8, 9, the collar-like member is cut away to prov1de a clearance notch 12 adapted tofit loosely around the transport-wheels w of the scrubbing machine M. v

Another type of floor machine which is commonly in use is the so-called heavy-duty type, I chine M shown in FIG. and having a rearwardly extending housing h which covers an auxiliary wheel assembly 1:. For such type of scrubbing machine, it is preferable to provide a modified form of splash guard A", as-shown in FIG. 9 and comprising a unitary collarlike member l3 which is substantially similar to the previously described splash guard A except that it includes an integrally molded rear projection 14 having a flat top wall shaped to fit over and around the housing It. 'lthe splash guard A" is dimensioned for somewhat loose-fitting disposition around the floor machine M" so as to ach eve the same free-floating action as the previously described embodiments.

It is also possible to provide a modified form of splash guard A, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 14, inclusive. Th s splash guard A is similar in construction to the previously described splash guard A, including a contlnuous annular collar-member 1 molded or otherwise suitably formed around its upper margin in the provision of a somewhat frusto-conical flange 2'. Around its bottom or floor'contacting margin, the splash guard A is straight and the tines 3 of splash guard A are omitted, so that the entire edge rests substantially upon the floor. Splash guards A' are, particularly useful in conjunction with applicator type machines, that is to say, machines for applying color pastes. It can be mounted on the floor machine R, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the floor machines may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim and desire to secure .by Letters Patent is:

1. A splash guard for usewith a floor machine including arotating means operatively mounted beneath an annular shell which is provided with a diametrally enlarged annular rim, saidsplash guard comprising an annular skirt sized for loose-fitting disposition over the shell and including an integral diametrally reduced frusto-conical flange sized for loose-fitting contact with the rim, said skirt being sized in height for normal floor-wise contact when the flange is in substantial-contact with the rim, whereby said splash guard will befslidably mounted on said annular shellin a free-floating manner, the lower margin of the skirtbeing providedwith a plurality of such as the maj tines for reducing the frictional skirt and the floor.

2. A splash guard for use with a floor machine including a rotating means operatively mounted beneath an annular shell which is provided with a diametrally enlarged annular rim, said splash guard comprising an annular skirt-sized for loose-fitting disposition over the shell and including an integral diametrally reduced frustoconical flange sized for loose-fitting contact with the rim, said skirt being sized in height for normal floor-wise contact when the flange is in substantial contact with the contact between the v rim, whereby said splash guard will be slightly mounted on said annular shell in a free-floating manner, the lower margin of the skirt being provided with a plurality of uniformly spaced tines for reducing the frictional contact between the skirt and the fioor.

3. A splash guard for use with a floor machine includinga rotating means operatively mounted beneath an annular shell which is provided with a diametrally enlarged annular rim and also includes a floor-contacting roller mounted adjacent said shell, said splash guard comprising an annular skirt sized for loose-fitting disposition over the shell and including an integral diametrally reduced portion adapted for loose-fitting engagement with the shell, an integral diametrally reduced frusto-conical flange sized for loose-fitting contact with the rim, and means for covering said roller'and thereby preventing any splash from escaping from the machine in the direction ofsaid roller, said means being integrally connected to the, skirt and also being loosely disposed over said shell,

said'skirt being sized in height for normal floor-wise contact when the diametrally reduced portion and flange are respectively insubstantial contact with the shell and the rim, whereby said splash guard will be slidably mounted on said annular shell in a free-floating manner.

- 4. The device of claim 3 wherein the covering means comprises a housing integrally formed with the skirt and includingan upper covering member, the inner margin of which is a smooth continued extension of the upper margin of the skirt.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the entire device is composed of a single piece of synthetic resin material.

References Cited the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

